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Sunday, June 19, 2011

This weekend, with our friends we gathered to support Sandi as she threw a fundraiser for her Team in Training run. If you've never heard of Team in Training, it is a program that supports its team members in training for a half or full marathon. They also train for bike rides and triathlons. Team members raise money along the way for theLeukemia & Lymphoma Society. It is inspiring that Sandi is going to achieve something as amazing as a half marathon, and even more so that she will be contributing to the funds needed to find cures for Leukemia and other blood cancers. If you'd like to learn more about Team in Training, or are feeling generous and would like to help Sandi reach her goal of $3,000 I will leave links here:Team in TrainingSandi's Fundraising Page- Sandi also updates on how training is going if you're interested in following along as the run approaches!

The event we attended this weekend was a dessert and wine party which was held in Sandi's family's donut shop after hours. We all had fun tasting wine and pairing it with the fancy chocolates Sandi provided. I know we usually stick to makeup and beauty products on our blog, but I thought this was a fun opportunity to introduce some of our friends, tell you about their outfits, and turn you on to a great cause!

Here they are!

Sandi

Blazer- Forever 21

Top- Forever 21

Jeans- Express

Wedges- American Eagle

Lauren

Dress (it was a short dress that I tucked in)- Anthropologie

Jeans- Target

Purse- Aldo Accessories

Wedges- Payless Shoes

Dia

Top- Forever 21

Shorts- Forever 21

Accessories- H&M

Wedges- TOMS

Mariel

Top- Forever 21

Shorts- Target

Heels- Forever 21

It was a fairly casual event, but hopefully you enjoyed seeing what everyone wore and learning where it came from! I know nosey people like me are always asking other girls where they got their top/shoes/ect.!

Remember to check out Team in Training and Sandi's updates on her fundraising page!

Thank you for reading! Hope everyone had a great weekend and Father's Day!

Monday, June 13, 2011

Hope you've all been doing well! Today we have a review for you, and if you have troubles with your makeup staying put this one could be for you!

The product is the e.l.f. Studio Makeup Mist & Set:

The e.l.f. website claims this spray will "keep your makeup in place all day with a radiance boosting invisible hold". We put the claim to the test for you and tried the spray over our makeup. Read below for our reviews!

The e.l.f. Makeup Mist &Set is a spray that is applied directly over your makeup and it is supposed to make your make up last all day and not fade or smudge off. The spray can also be used as a touch up throughout the day, I tried the product both ways. The spray is refreshing and it’s a good little ‘pick me up’ in the middle of the day; but I don’t know if the claim on lasting power is true. I used the spray over my Fit Me foundation, since my MAC foundation already claimed an all day staying power. As it dries on your skin, if feels like there is a very thin layer of something covering your face and your makeup. But I couldn’t really see a noticeable difference in my makeup lasting all day. Yet, I still use the product a couple times a week when I know it’s going to be a hot day and I want to give my makeup a little bit more of a fighting chance in lasting. I also did one spray on my eyeshadow brush before applying my shadow to help in the lasting power and to help pick up more product. Again, I didn't see an astonishing difference, but it doesn't hurt to use it!

I usually don't have a problem with my make-up staying put but I am going on vacation soon and I think this stuff will give me extra staying power when I'm all hot and sweaty. I used this on a regular day with my eyeshadows that fade easily and found that the colors staying on a bit longer than usual. I sprayed my brush with the spray first, let it dry for a second (just one!) and then dipped it into my color and applied as usual. I've also tried it all over my face, holding the bottle about a foot away. It had a funny scent but it quickly went away. I tried using my powder with no primer and used the mist instead. My powder did not last that long with this mist, I would use primer insead of this stuff, but if you want to make some eyeshadow last longer, I would use this $3 spray from Target. Hope this helps!!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, most of the time I'm working with kids. Because of this if I ever planned on doing anything after work my makeup would always need a pretty major touch up. After reading the claims of this e.l.f. product it seemed like it would be the perfect solution to being able to wear the same face of makeup all day. So, I put it to the test one day and before I headed to work I applied the makeup I wanted to wear to dinner that night (which was a full face of foundation, blush, eye shadow, mascara- everything!) and lightly misted the spray on my face on my way out the door. After work I was pleasantly surprised at the state of my makeup! I went out that night without touching up my makeup beforehand, and my makeup even looked great after when I got home for the night.

This product is well worth the $3 it costs, but I'm not quite sure how necessary it is. If you have a problem with your makeup fading throughout the day, then this is great, otherwise, I would probably just recommend using this on special occasions when you know you won't be able to make little touch ups.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

May was a little chiller than normal but I've been trying to add some bright colors to my make-up bag. Here are some new products that I LOVE...so far!

1. Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color in 460 Snappy Sorbet- This is a great coral shade of nail polish that has been missing in my nail polish collection. This color screams summer and dries in 60 seconds flat, you cant beat that! I got it for around $4 at Target.

2. Stila Convertible Color in 15 Lillium- Another coral, peachy pink color for summer. I love that I can use this for either blush or lip gloss, but I usually use it on my cheeks. This came in a set from Costco that included two lipliners, two eyeshadows and a pencil sharpener all for $10!! At first I thought it was a smaller size of the coverable color, but after looking at Spehora its the same size for $15 cheaper and includes all the other freebies! Hopefully they still have this set at your local Costco!!!

3. elf Hypershine Gloss in Fairy- This is a pretty iridescent pearl pink shade of lipgloss, Im used to paying $25+ for this kind of clicking applicator but Target's elf line is super affordable and offers a quality product. at$1 each you can stock up on as many shades as you want!

4. The Body Shop Aloe Soothing Night Cream- I got a Groupon deal for the Body Shop (can you guys tell I'm frugal?) and went crazy at this store! I felt really silly asking the girl working there what the difference between night cream and regular moisturizer, but she said its a common question. Night cream is a little thicker and richer in order to deeply moisturize while you sleep. This aloe line is meant for sensitive skin and it has a very mild scent. It leaves my skin glowing but if i wear it too often my t-zone breaks out! This stuff was $20 bucks but I would pay that much again!

5. Benefit Bene-tint - I know this stuff has been out forever but I really really love the way this looks on everybody's skin tone. Its stains your skin which means its got lasting staying power. Its also doubles as a lip stain and I think anyone who is starting a new make-up bag needs to have this!!

Hope you had a great month of May and heres to a warmer, brighter June!!!

It's just about summer-time! I have been embracing brighter colors and some shimmer and have tried my best to keep my skin moisturized. Here are the products I loved and used most during the month of May:

Milani Liquif'eye Metallic Eye Liner Pencil

Dare I say... this is the best drugstore pencil eyeliner I have ever used! It glides on smoothly and lasts just as long as my gel liner. The black (which is the only color I've tried so far) is very pigmented and gives a nice dark color even when applied to my eyes' waterline. It costs about $5 at Target and I think Sandi said she's also seen Milani sold at CVS stores.

Covergirl Aqua Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer

Something I haven't mentioned before is that my job involves working with young kids. Because of this I am constantly running around, kids are rubbing their dirty hands all over my face, and I am out in the sun a lot. I still love my Make Up Forever HD Foundation for when I'm trying to achieve a "flawless" look, but for a day at work this Covergirl tinted moisturizer paired with some powder is perfect. It is light, offers sun protection, and doesn't feel greasy on my skin when the day is over. I have tried a couple of other tinted moisturizers and this is my favorite because I feel like it covers the imperfections on my skin while staying light.

Essie Nail Polish in "Fiji"

A really pretty pink for summer! Usually I find the pretty, girlie pink colors from Essie to be a little watery, but since this pink is slightly milky, I didn't find myself having to pile on coats of polish like I normally would with this brand. Since it's such a light color it also complimented the tiny tan I've achieved so far this summer!

Flowerbomb Perfume by Victor and Rolf

Smells so nice! After looking it up I've learned this perfume contains notes of bergamot, tea, jasmine, freesia, orchid, centiflora rose and patchouli. I'm not quite sure which note stands out the most for me, but I just love it! I am usually drawn towards deeper, muskier scents, but this is light and floral. Although it's more feminine than my usual scent, it still smells complex and I don't feel like a teenager wearing it. The downside is that it costs an arm and a leg and I have the tiniest bottle Sephora had to offer. I'm going to have to try my very best to make it last through summer!

Smashbox Soft Lights Blush in Shimmer

A slightly pink, bronzed shimmer for cheeks. This has been nice when I'm in a rush. It acts as a subtle blush and highlighter in one. The color is a pink that would compliment any skin tone and the shimmer is bronzed which would suit a tan nicely as you gain some color over the summer months!

It’s that time again, favorites. May came and went so fast! But that just means we’re one step closer to SUMMER! Some of these products are new, and some are older ones that I have rediscovered and fallen for again!

MAC Pro Longwear in NC15: I had been reading reviews on this particular foundation and finally decided to go and buy it. And I love it!!! This foundation is supposed to last for 15 hours, which is a big claim and honestly I didn’t think it would last that long for me. Normally I get ready for work at 6am and by the middle of the day when I have a break, my make up is blotchy or melted off. But, hand to God, I apply this foundation at 6am with a stippling brush and it’s still on AND looks the same throughout the day. And by the time I leave the gym at 9pm, I know my face is still looking good (minus the gym sweat of course). This is a full coverage foundation, but it feels like I am wearing nothing at all! Ok enough raving about this product.

Now, thanks to Lauren, I bought the e.l.f contouring blush & bronzing powder that she featured last month in her favorites! I really love this product, the bronzer is a bit dark for my skin color, so I literally just tap my brush in it twice, tap off the excess and I am good to go! I wouldn’t use this as an all over bronzer, but I love it for contouring and the blush is nice and subtle. it’s a great combination!

I have been using this eye routine as a natural-ish, everyday look. And it can easily be exaggerated for night as well. I have been using my Revlon color stay 12 hour eye shadow palette in Spring Moss, and using the lightest iridescent white color on my inner corner and over my lid. And then I use my e.l.f quad in Butternut, but only using the gold, bronzed color to go over my outer corner and crease. It is a great eye opening combination and its perfect for summer weather and bronzed skin.

My last favorite beauty product is the new polish by Essie in Braziliant. Its an orange color, which I am not normally a fan of, but it has amazing reflects in it which look awesome when the sun hits it! The color looks great on tan hands and it is such an unexpected color, it is great for summer. And I have gotten a lot of compliments on it so far!

Infiniti by Conair: I have been using this curling wand almost every single day since I purchased it. I absolutely love it!!! It gives amazing curls that fall to loose beach waves, I cant get enough of it and have been recommending it to everyone that asks me how I did my hair. The curls set and last so well, I don’t even use hairspray on them. Perfect quick hairstyle for summer, and it looks even better the second day!

Last, Dark Kiss fragrance mist by Bath and Body Works. I have had their candle in the scent for ever and finally went in and bought the body mist. The scent is addicting. It’s light enough for the day, yet still sexy. It’s described as “a seductive blend of voluptuous berries, tempting blooms and night musk”. Literally obsessed with this, my room smells like it and now I do as well!